Aduro Biotech, Inc. has earned a $3 million development milestone under its worldwide licensing agreement with Merck for the initiation of a Phase I trial of its anti-CD27 antibody. The Phase I trial will evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the anti-CD27 antibody when administered alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in adults with advanced solid tumors.

CD27 is a co-stimulatory receptor expressed on different immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes and NK (natural killer) cells. It plays an important role in enhancing and sustaining a productive anti-cancer (CD8 T-cell) adaptive immune response. In preclinical studies, anti-CD27 activation was shown to enhance T-cell response, which in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition demonstrated the ability to achieve complete tumor eradication.

In 2014, Merck entered into a worldwide license agreement for the development and commercialization of CD27 antibody agonists. As a part of the agreement, Aduro is eligible to receive future development, commercial and sales milestones, as well as royalties on any sales, if approved.

“We are pleased with the strong progress Merck has made in the development of our anti-CD27 antibody,” said Hans van Eenennaam, executive vice president of antibody research and site head, Aduro Biotech Europe. “This marks an important step forward in the advancement of our proprietary B-select monoclonal antibody technology, as the second antibody to enter the clinic.”